In a move under the “Mission Flood Free 2025” campaign, the District Commissioner and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Kamrup (Metro), issued a stringent directive mandating the immediate removal of silt within two hours of drain de-siltation. The directive, meant to reduce waterlogging and ensure cleaner city streets during the monsoon season, also warned that failure to comply would attract legal consequences under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
ALSO READ: Guwahati’s Unregulated Getaways Pose Deadly Risks
However, days after the order came into effect, glaring non-compliance has gone unchecked, with multiple areas in Guwahati witnessing blatant disregard for the mandate. Localities such as Ghoramara, Hatigaon, and Bhetapara continue to suffer under the weight of uncleared silt heaps, turning neighbourhoods into potential disaster zones and triggering public outrage.
Issued with immediate effect, the DDMA order sought to create accountability among city departments and private contractors engaged in the pre-monsoon desilting work. The rationale was simple — remove the silt promptly or face legal action. However, the ground reality suggests that the authorities have made no effort to enforce the order. In areas like Hatigaon, where drains were recently cleaned, the extracted muck remains dumped by the roadside for days, blocking footpaths and contributing to foul odours.
In Ghoramara, residents allege that the heaps of silt are not only an eyesore but also pose serious health risks. “They cleaned the drains, but the waste is still lying here,” said a local resident on condition of anonymity. “We read in the news about the order, but who do we even contact if it’s not followed? There’s no hotline or grievance redressal shared anywhere.”
Despite the stern wording of the order, no department or contractor has faced any legal action so far — not even warnings have been issued. As the Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides powers for stringent action in the interest of public safety, the inaction of the DDMA raises questions about the sincerity behind the initiative.
Legal experts suggest that the order, though well-intentioned, is futile without enforcement mechanisms. “Issuing orders is the easy part. Implementing them is where the administration falters,” said a Guwahati-based lawyer. “If the DDMA is serious about preventing floods, it must initiate at least a few cases under the Disaster Management Act to set an example.”
In Bhetapara, where recurring waterlogging has long been a sore point during monsoons, the latest round of desilting was supposed to bring relief. But residents argue that it has only added to their problems. “Silt was removed, yes — but it has just been relocated to the roadside. We have schoolchildren and elderly people walking through this muck every day,” said another local resident. “It’s like moving the problem from one spot to another.”
Local shopkeepers in Hatigaon, too, complain that the stagnant silt affects business. “People avoid parking here or coming into our shops because of the unbearable stench,” said a pharmacy owner. “We heard there was an order, but the contractor did not follow anything. And no one from the department has shown up to inspect.”
Perhaps the most damning aspect of the situation is the complete lack of a mechanism for public complaints. While the DDMA order was publicised through news portals and official statements, it did not include any helpline, email ID, or nodal officer information for citizens to report violations. This gap has rendered the public helpless, with many unaware of even the basic tenets of the order.
Civil society groups argue that this is a classic case of bureaucratic opacity. “What is the point of such orders if the public cannot participate in enforcement?” questioned an urban planning activist. “Instead of empowering communities, the administration has just passed the buck. Citizens are left clueless about who to approach, and departments are clearly taking advantage of this vacuum.”
With the monsoon inching closer, experts warn that the unremoved silt will soon find its way back into the drains, nullifying any de-silting efforts made so far. “The basic idea behind desilting is to increase the water-carrying capacity of the drains,” said a PWD engineer. “But if the silt is not lifted and disposed of properly, it will be washed right back in with the first major rain, defeating the whole exercise.”
Guwahati, which has faced severe urban flooding in recent years, is particularly vulnerable to clogged drains and poor drainage infrastructure. According to an internal information by a source from Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), nearly 30% of the city’s stormwater drains are either clogged or encroached upon.
Repeated attempts to reach DDMA officials for comment went unanswered. A GMC official, speaking off the record, admitted that there was “confusion about departmental responsibilities” and a “shortage of field-level staff to monitor silt removal timings.” This bureaucratic buck-passing, however, provides little solace to residents dealing with the fallout of policy paralysis.
Public health experts also warn of looming hygiene concerns. “Rotting silt is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, bacteria, and other pathogens,” said a city-based health officer. “With dengue cases already on the rise, this negligence could have serious consequences for urban health.”
Amid mounting frustrations, local residents and community forums are now demanding transparency in the implementation of the flood mitigation mission. Several housing societies in the affected areas are urging for public sharing of action-taken reports and enforcement logs.
“Give us a name, a number, or an email where we can report if the silt is not lifted,” said a Ghoramara resident. “The DC’s order means nothing if we can’t do anything about it when it’s violated.”
As Guwahati waits for the rains, the promise of a “flood-free” city appears to be slipping under the weight of uncollected silt and unfulfilled administrative commitment. The silence of enforcement authorities, the absence of citizen grievance platforms, and the visible non-compliance in key areas paint a dismal picture of a mission that began with lofty ideals.
Unless the DDMA and its allied departments move swiftly to enforce their own orders, set up public reporting channels, and initiate legal proceedings against defaulters, “Mission Flood Free 2025” may soon become another grand plan buried in muck — both literally and metaphorically.